Staying off the Shelf

July 15, 2015mikemjensen Writing Tags: books, Publishing, Writing Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

There was a time I thought it would pretty cool to see my books on sale on the shelves of Barnes and Noble. It was a small time but I’m coming clean, it’s how I started out thinking as the measure of success.

I still get asked where my books are available. “Um, Amazon.”

“But not in a real store?”

“If you don’t consider Amazon, the biggest book retailer, a real store; I guess so.”

I know there was a time that books were only sold in stores. But then again so were lots of things. I, like millions others, found the Internet and have moved past all that.

As I have learned since, wishing my books in a big box book store is like wishing I had a first class deck chair on the Titanic. Or like sitting in the pilot’s chair on the Zeppelin. Or having a low numbered boarding pass for a Southwest Airlines flight.

I’ve enjoyed not playing within the publishing world. I think I’m just fine without the rejection letters, the humiliating twitter comments from agents reviewing their slush piles, or publishers taking my work and changing it to how they believed to be more marketable.

I made a conscious choice to self-publish.

Why?

I do everything else myself. I fix my own vehicles. I tie my own flies. And I write my own books.

Are they perfect?

Of course not.

But every aspect of the job is up to me. I own my books. I choose the story, the cover, the formatting. Everything. I decide what they are worth.

And if B&N ever did want my book AND I agreed to let them; I would make like 2¢ a book. I have respect for my work and the thrill of seeing my book on their shelves, just doesn’t feel worth it. And don’t even get me started with the return policy.

No, I’ll stick with my control, my meager sales, and my own destiny.

By myself and online.

Day 142

Life’s Too Short for Negative Reviews

May 2, 2014mikemjensen Life's Truths, Writing Tags: Amazon, Efforts, life, Literature, negative, Opinions, perfection, Publishing, reviews, Writing Leave a comment

It’s too short to do surveys too, but that’s another subject.
But I don’t like giving bad reviews, as in reviews on bad books, speeches, etc. I don’t do it. It doesn’t make me feel good doing it. And it can destroy the recipient.
I might give a friend feedback, and I’ll be honest too. But at least then, that person asked and knows that I’m trying to help and not tear down.
But an unsolicited, negative review, I’ll pass. I don’t need it, they don’t need it. I’ll just move along to the next book, presentation, speech. Whatever.
If I like it, on the flip side, unsolicited good reviews is what life is all about!
I love to tell an author how much I loved his or her book. It’s encouraging. For both of us. I feel good doing it. I know the recipient enjoys it too.
And we can all use more time feeling good.

The Work in Progress- April 26, 2014

April 26, 2014April 25, 2014mikemjensen Ain't Dead Yet, Cursing Black's Gold, Porter Rockwell, Twice the Christmas, Work in Progress, Writing Tags: Amazon, Christmas, editing, holiday, OPR, Porter Rockwell, Publishing, Writing Leave a comment

So I thought I would take Saturdays and use them as updates to where I am in the writing/publishing process. I know boring stuff, but I get asked every once in a while so why not.

I am still struggling along in the edits of the second book the OPR series currently titled Cursing Black’s Gold. I just can’t seem to get it just right. I’m very pleased with the ending, but the middle part needs some work. After attending a writer’s conference, I did get some insights in what was stalling my progress. I refocused and things seem to be moving now just a bit. By next week I hope to have more progress and maybe an estimate on the publish date.

Ain’t Dead Yet continues to sell at a slow but steady pace in the kindle store. The most common thing I do hear from those who talk to me about the book is “When is the next one out?” (see above). It’s a nice thing to hear.

Under the category of “Pay more attention to your reports”, I learn upon reading a few of those reports that Twice the Christmas during the December special, was down loaded in Great Britain, Denmark, and Italy. I think that’s rather cool.

I can’t wait to get started on the finishing touches of this year’s Christmas story. I won’t talk much of it right now, but it is waiting for me as soon as Porter II is done. I’ll shed more light on the story once I get back to work on it. The working title is The Biggest Little Christmas in the World. Some out there might recognize the origin of that tag line. And yup, it has to do with there.

OK. That’s it for now. Stay tuned for more riveting writing news next week.

mmj